Aer Lingus full-year operating loss quadruples

"It's imperative that they get the cost deal through. The market is losing patience because the revenue line remains difficult," Stephen Furlong, analyst at Davy Stockbrokers said.

Airlines have seen demand drop faster than capacity could be trimmed over the last year and workers across the industry have lost patience with cost-cutting programmes.

Deutsche Lufthansa and British Airways have been two of the biggest European carriers hit by strikes this year.

In another fresh risk to Ireland's traditionally peaceful industrial relations, public sector unions said on Monday they would begin strikes in an escalation of their campaign against the government's fiscal reforms.

(Editing by Louise Heavens)